Electric signal.



'PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

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ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1906.

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UNITED STATEEATENT orrion.

ROBERT PFEIL, OF GRUNEI/VALD, BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIE- MENS &HALSKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4;, 1907/ Application filed January 19,1906. Serial No.296,839.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT PFEIL, a sub ject of the German Empire, and aresident of Grunewald, Berlin, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Electric Signals, and in order that those skilled in theart may understand, make and use my invention I give the followingspecification.

My inventionrelates to electrically oper. ated signals of that classwhich are manually controlled and are dependent upon the action ofgravity or upon manual operation and gravity for their return from a setto normal position (the normal position usually being at danger); andthe object of my invention is to insure an automatic and positive returnof the signal to danger position independent of the action of gravity orof the operator, when conditions in the tracks, switches, crossings,blocks, relays, &c., are such as to require that the signal indicatedanger.

Other objects of the invention and the me ans and manner by which thesame is practically carried out are set forth in the followingspecification:

In electrically operated signals of the above described character whichare brought to the clear position by the cooperation of a motor and anelectromagnetic coupling device, or by the operation of a motor only,and are held in the clear position by the coupling device or anelectrically holding and releasing device, the return of the signals tothe danger position is effected either by gravity or by the motor, orboth these means are employed in such manner that the signals aregenerally returned to danger position by the force of gravity alone, andthen held or locked in the danger position by the motor, the motor beingcalled upon for the return movement only where the force of gravity isinsufficient. Where signals of such character are controlled bydifferent devices (such as switch-points, block sections, relays, etc.)they have, up to the present, been so arranged that the force of gravityfor returning the signals has been set in operation by certain changesof condition in any one of these devices while the motor in all cases isset in operation only by the use of a controlling lever (the signallever) manually operated. The automatic return of the signal inconsequence of the changed condition of any devices guarded by thesignalfor example, by reason of the opening of a switch always takeplace therefore only by means of the effect of gravity, which may be setin operation by the interruption of a current to the coupling device.Certainty of the return movement of the reversal of the motor can onlybe hereby obtained by the operation of the signal lever, that is, onlyby the act of the operator. The certainty that the signal will beactually returned to the danger position is thus dependent less uponautomatic operation than upon the operator.

The object of the present invention is to render possible the operationof the motor for the return of the signal with the automatic release ofthe signal independent of the position of the signal lever.

In the following specification and accompanying drawings an apparatusembodying the invention is illustrated and described in connection withcircuits for causing the signal to take the danger position by theinterruption of the current through the coupling device, but theinvention may be employed in any known circuit connections.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated diagrammatically asystem or apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 1 of which shows theposition of the switches, sig nal and motor connections, the signalbeing in dan er position. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the samecircuits and connections for the motor, giving the operation of thesignal from danger to safety'position. Fi 6 is a view illustrating theinvention as app ied to a plurality of places or devices to be guardedby the signal. Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, illustrate modifications of themotor controlling devices in cooperation with the signal levers ofdifferent construction.

In Fig. 1, 1 represents the battery or other source of current forsupplying the circuits in operating the signal, from one terminal ofwhich leads a conductor a to and through a switch-blade 8, controllingthe circuits 17 and 18 leading to field coils 21 and 22 respectively tothe armature 23 of the motor to the other terminal 3 of the battery.Another conductor 1) leads from a terminal 2 of the battery to andthrough a circuit closer 4, magnet 5, switch-blade 9, which maybe movedto either contact 15 or 16. Contact 16 is connected directly to theother terminal 3 of the bat- I vice between the motor and the signal.

tery and contact 15 is connected with a circuit 19 which includes anelectromagnetic coupling device 27 and is also connected to the otherterminal 3 of the battery.

The ordinary signal lever is indicated at 7, and with this is connectedswitches 8 and 9 by means of a suitable link or tie-rod, as shown. Thearmature lever 6 of the magnet 5 is shown in the dropped position inFig. 1, and this position locks the signal lever 7. The armature lever 6is connected by any suitable means, such as a link 6 with a switch 10,arranged to move from contact 17 to contact 18*" and to connect eitherone of said contacts according to its position, with contact 12.Contacts 17 and 18 are connected to the conductors 17 and 18 which leadto the motor coils 21 and 22 respectively.

The signal 28 is connected with the motor armature 23 by means of apinion on the armature shaft and a gear sector 30 in mesh therewith.Connected to the sector 30 so as to move therewith is a lever 24, thesector and lever moving about the pivot 24*. A connecting rod or link 26is pivotally connected with the end of lever 24 and carries anelectromagnet 27 which forms a coupling de- The armature 27 of themagnet 27 is connected by a rod 27 to the signal 28. By the ar rangementshown and described, when the electromagnet is energized by the movementof the signal lever and the motor is cut into circuit, the downwardmovement of lever 24 will move the signal 28 to the safety or clearposition.

The motor is so constructed that a current through conductor 17 causes adownward movement of lever 24, throwing the signal into the safetyposition, and a current through conductor 18 will cause an oppositemovement and return the signal to the danger position. For reversing themotor various switching connections may be used. Among others, those inwhich the motor is connected with the conductors 17 and 18 by means of arelay. In the illustration of the invention here. given the motor isshown with two field windings 21. and.22, which are connected toone'brush of the armature and so connected with the motor-switch.;20,which is moved by the arm 24, to which it is connected by a rod 25, thatthe winding 21 will be connected to the conductor 17, and;.the winding22 will be connected to conductor 18. The other brush of the motor iscon,- nected with one terminal of the source of current. In the presentinstance it is connected to ground.

The switch 4 between the terminal 2 of the source of current and themagnet 5 is intended to represent broadly the means which controlsmagnet 5, which may be any place or series of places, or conditions,which determine the condition of the signal, that is, this switchrepresents block sections, switch-points, crossings, etc., the conditionor position of which is to be indicated by the signal.

When the devices re resented by Fig. 4 are in normal or safe con ition,switch 4 will be closed. The magnet 5 then becomes energized, thecurrent flowing from 2 over the switch 4, magnet 5 to terminal 14,switchblade 9 to the other terminal 3 from the source of current. Theenergizing of the magnet 5 pulls the armature lever 6, and releasessignal lever 7 By the throwing over of the signal lever, switches 8 and9 are moved to contacts 12 and 15 respectively and switch 10 is moved bythe movement of the armature 7 to contact 17*. p The current now flowsfrom the terminal 2 through switch 4, and magnet 5, to conductor 19through the electromagnetic device 27 to the other terminal 3, and thesource of current. Magnet 27 thereupon becomes energized and the signal28 is coupled to the signal operating mechanism. At the same time themotor circuit is energized the current flowing from the terminal 1.through Switchblade 8 to contact 12, switch-blade 10, conductor 17 andthrough motor switch 20, coil 21., armature 23, to the other terminal 3of the source of current. The motor is thus operated and the arm 24 ismoved downward pulling with it the signal 28 and moving the same tosafety or clear position and at the same time moving the motor switch 20to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the motor switch 20 hasreached the limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 4, the circuitthrough the conductor 17 and motor coil 21 is broken as shown in thatfigure, and the motor is stopped. of the signal to danger position maynow be effected by the interruption of the current through the couplingdevice (27), as, for eX- ample, by the opening of switch 4 or any of thedevices represented thereby, or the signal may be returned by thethrowing back of the signal lever. In devices heretofore known, theinterruption of the current through the coupling device at the switch 4or its equivalent effected only the release of the signal from itsoperating mechanism, and gravity was relied upon for the return movementof the signal. According to the present invention, however, theinterruption ofthe current through the circuit causes a positive return.of the signal by the operation of the motor, since by the interruptionof this current magnet 5'is deenergized and armature lever 6 falls back,carrying with it switch 10, moving the same over to contact 18 andconnecting the conductor 18 with the source of current as shown in Fig.5. connected with the field coil 22 of the motor 23, causes the motor tobe driven in a direction to cause the tie-rod 26 and magnet 27 to bemoved u wardly carrying with it armature 27 a an the rod 27 The latterbeing The return This conductor 18 being connected to the signal thesignal arm 28 is brought down into the danger position as shown. Thereturn of the signal by the motor may thus be eflected, according totheresent invention not only from a single place, but from any desiredplace or places, and in any desired manner by means which act upon themagnet 5, as, for instance by hand switches or automatically actingswitches. The same purpose may be accomplished also without magnet 5, byan arrangement of switches 33, 34, and in the conductors 17 and 1.8, asshown in Fig. 6, which switches are operated either indirectly as shownat 33 and 34, or directly, as shown at 35 from the places to be guardedby the signal. Switches 33 and 34 are operated in the usual manner bymagnets and 41 which are energized, when the conditions are such thatthe places to be guarded require a clear signal. As shown at 35, theswitch is operated directly by the switch-points 42 and causes theconnection of the wire 17 with the switch 8 only when the switches 33,34 or 35 are in closed position. lVhen any one of said switches isopened, the conductor 18 isconnected in circuit, causing the return ofthe signal to danger. In a similar manner, well known to those skilledin the art, a signal may be made to be dependent upon relays for itsaction, condition of block sections, etc. The same signal changes may bemade de pendent upon relays or switches located in any desired place,for example, in the signal box itself so that the same changes may occurand made dependent upon any desired arrangement or apparatus. The abovedescribed arrangement may be employed in any form of apparatus on allsignal circuits even if these require more than one conductor for eachmotor movement. It is furthermore immaterial whether or not theelectromagnetic coupling device is situated in a particular or specialcircuit. Also the arrangement shown may be employed in controllingdevices in which the motor runs in the same direction when the signal isreturned to danger as when the signal is moved to safety. The conductor18 represents in general that conductor through which current flows tomove the signal into danger position irrespective of the direction ofmovement of the motor.

The arrangement of switch 10 in connection with magnet 5 may beadvantageously carried out in the following manner: Should the power ofmagnet 5 be insufficient to cause the movement of switch 10, this switchmay be moved by means of a suitable modification of the signal lever 7such as is illustrated in Fig. 7. For this purpose, the signal lever isprovided with a cam 31 which pushes over armature lever 28 to the poleof the magnet 5 when the signal lever is thrown over and thereby pullsover the switch 10 onto the contact 17 of conductor 17. The magnet thenis required merely to hold the armature in position. This arrangement,it is true, has the disadvantage that in the throwing back of the signallever, the armature lever 28 which has somewhat fallen away in themeantime will be moved on to the pole of the magnet by the cam 27,though only temporarily. This advantage may be removed by arrangementssuch as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10. Rigid cam 31 is replaced by aflexibly mounted cam 29, mounted on the signal lever, and held in normalposition by means of a spring 29*. In the position shown in Fig. 8, thearmature lever 38 forms a lock for the signal lever by means of a stop33 fixed on the latter, the armature lever being held in this positionby means of a spring or weight 38. The connection be tween the armaturelever and the switch 10 is such that the armature lever may have aslight lost motion, such as, for instance, by a pin and slot connection6. This lost motion is sufiicient to release the hand lever 7 fromlocked position and is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The windingon the magnet is so arranged that the magnet will have sufficient pullto execute this movement, but not sufficient to overcome the action of aspring 34 acting on switch 10, and normally holding. the same on contact18*. When the signal lever is thrown over, cam 29 forces the armaturelever over to the magnet, as indicated in Fig. 9. This arrangement alsopermits that the armature lever may fall away from the magnet. When thesignal lever is thrown back as indicated in Fig. 10, stop 33 moves backthe armature slightly, as indicated in that figure, but owing to itslost movement this does not effect the position of switch 10. Cam 29thereby clears the armature lever and the switch remains in normalposition. In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a modification in which linkconnections are employed between the switch 10 and the signal lever, andat the same time renders them dependent upon a magnet 32. If, whenmagnet 32 is energized, a signal lever is moved from the normal position(Fig. 11) to the clear position (Fig. 12) the link members take theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 whereby switch 10 will bemoved over to contact 17. Upon interruption-of the exciting current ofmagnet 32, the armature of magnet 32 falls away either by the action ofa weight or spring and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 12,and the switch 10 is moved to connect the con ductor 18 in circuit forthe return of the sig nal. The pivot point of switch 10 may also bedirectly connected with the terminal 1 of the source of current asrepresented in Figs. 11 and 12, in which case switch 8 is entirelydispensed with.

It is obvious that magnet 32 may be made dependent upon devicesrepresented by Fig. 6 in the same manneras magnet 5 in Fig. 1. Theswitch illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 11 may also be arranged in anyother service position and may be set by means of a stop lever,(controlling lever) or by automatically acting devices and switched intocircuit after the manner shown in Fig. 6.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an electric signal apparatus, the combination with a signal, amotor for operating the same, and manually operated means forcontrolling the setting of the signal, of means dependent upon thecondition to be indicated by the signal for causing the motor toreturnthe signal to corresponding position.

2. An electric signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, a motorfor operating the same, energizing circuits and connections for themotor, one of said circuits causing the motor to set the signal, anotherof said circuits causing the motor to return the signal to normalposition, and a switch controlling said circuits, said switchautomatically controlled by the conditions to be indicated by thesignal.

3. In an electric signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, a motorfor operating the signal, a source of current for the motor, connectionsfrom the source of current to the motor, one of said connections causingthe motor to move the signal to safety position, another of saidconnections causing the motor to move the signal to danger position,

and a switch controlling said connections and means dependent upon theconditions to be indicated by the signal for operating said switch tocause the motor to return the sig nal from safety to danger position.

4. In an electric signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, a motorfor operating the same circuits and connections for energizing themotor, one of said circuits causing the motor to set the signal, anotherof said circuits causing the motor to return the signal to normalposition, two switches for controlling said circuits, manually operatedmeans for operating one of said switches, and means automaticallyoperated by changes of the conditions to be indicated by the signal foroperating the other switch.

5. In an electric signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, a motorfor operating the same, circuits and connections for energizing themotor, one of said circuits causing the motor to set the signal, anotherof said circuits causing the motor to return the signal to normalposition, a switch dependent upon the conditions to be indicated by thesignal for controlling said circuits, a manually operated switch forcontrolling said circuits, and a locking device for the manuallyoperated switch controlled by the first named switch.

6. In an electrical signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, amotor for operating the signal, a circuit for controlling the operationof the motor, a source of current, manually operated means forconnecting the motor circuit with the source of current to operate thesignal, and means responsive to the condition to be indicated by thesignal and acting on the motor circuit to return the signal from its setposition to normal independently of the manually operated means.

7. In an electrical signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, amotor for operating the signal, circuits for controlling'the m0- tor tooperate the signal in either direction, a manually operated switch forconnecting the motor circuits with the source of current, anautomatically operated switch for connecting the motor circuit with thesource of current, and means dependent upon the conditions to beindicated by the signal for operating the latter switch independently ofthe manually operated switch.

8. In an electrical signal apparatus, the combination of a signal, amotor for operating the signal, and an electro-magnetic coupling devicebetween the motor and the signal, two energizing circuits for the motor,one of said circuits for setting the signal and the other of saicircuits for returning the signal to normal position, a circuit for theelectromagnetic coupling device, manually operated switches for all ofsaid circuits, an automatically operated switch for the motor circuits,a locking device controlled by the position of the automaticallyoperated switch, said looking device locking the manually operatedswitches, and means dependent upon the conditions to be indicated by thesignal for operating said locking device, and an automatic switchwhereby the motor is connected in circuit to return the signal to normalposition independently of the manually operated switch.

ROBERT PFEIL.

